Insulating covering for flexible pipe conduits



Sepi. 22, 1931. w. w. KNIGHT INSULATING COVERING FOR FLEXIBLE PIPE CONDUITS Filed July 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept 22, 1931. w. w. KNIGHT INSULATING COVERING FOR FLEXIBLE PIPE CONDUITS Filed July 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmv www.

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u Il I\\\\\ Patented Sept. 22, 1931 unirse? stares WILLIAM W. KNIGHT, "ou EvANsToN,iLLiNoisQnssieivon TQRQTHRUBBERCOMPANY., or omesso, immerse CORPORATION- or ILLiNois.-

iNsUnATINGoovERIivc-inon FLEXIBLE PIPE' coivDUirs' Application filed July 9`, ,1928.l Serielle'. 291,318".y

rIhis invention relatestoaninsulating covering for flexible metallic conduits, ,andmore' particularly to a new and? improved means for protecting and insulatingV a portion` of "gg-:a flexible metallic conduit structure.`

It is possible` and customary,toinsulate the stationary portions of steam pipelines on railway carsso asto minimize the heatv losses. For coupling together; the steam iovpipes onadjacent cars, flexible metallic conduits niadeup of a, pluralityof rigid metal conduit sections suitably articulated together` at their endsare now-k replacing theiiexiblerubber hose couplers formerly used. These lexible metallic conduits includek tions of considerable length wliicli'should'be insulated to avoid excessive heat losses.

These sections have. been covered with al` jacket of asbestos or other fibrous insulating Zul-material, which was heldin place and pro-- tected by an outercasi-ng of vthin-sheet meta-l. Thisl outer metal casing will fsweat orL accumulate moisture so that the insulation becomes wet and wet insulation is not effec-- 25tive. lt" is also impossibleto seal this metal casing tightly, and if the meta-l casing contacts at any place with the inner metallic structure it serves to conduct heat from the inner conduit.

The present invention relates to a new and improved casing which surrounds the-fibrous insulating jacket heretofore used.y A casing` of rubber, or other similary nonmetallic subv,

stance, is formed-to substantially enclose the 35I placed in position about the insulating covering. The casing is formed internallywith wi'inwardly projecting crossed ribs which engage the asbestos insulation and provide air* pockets between this insulation andthe rub` ber casing, these air'pockets greatly increasing the insulating properties of the covering.k il The rubber casing is bound securely inv place about the conduit structure andV asbestos insulation, and serves not only toprevent the loss of heat butt as aprotection for thefeni 50 closed parts since therubber casing willi ab# .self or the parts therein.

tures with. the.v insulation; .infplaceT portions. being shown` in. vertical section;

insulating. jacket before it. is r applied? to the conduit member except for the outlets at the ends, and the casing split along one'k side so thaty it may be sprung apart-andsorb-.Vsliocks and;l blows withoutr injuryto 1 iti--v vThe: obj ect of this-.inventionis to:4 pro y5de a new and. improvedginsulatingcovering: forrV Ya metallic conduit-structure,.asbrieiy de 155;...

scribed hereinabove and asrdisclosedf-more in; detail in' the descriptionfwliicli follows..

Other objects.:y and. advantages of* the inventiona Will'bermore apparent; from thek following detailed descriptionl ofy one', apy proved forni'. of the` device,

the .accompanying dra-wingigsc"Y j Fig..1-isV a side "elevationof arportioir off one f of the flexible'. metallicfconduit. struc'-V conduit.,l f

Figi? `a..perspectiveview of one ofthe l metallic `binders or, clips used to secure the casing in position. i

1 Fig., Sis a;..d`etai:lf perspective'v showing the:4 binder inl applied.,position.4 Y Y tReferr-ingffirst to, Figs(` 1 and 3, at: l; is:

shown V thezcasing of the end'; train pipeivalivicL onthea car. which is connected with one? endry ofthe. train steam `pipe. on. the cai', and 2 is one of'afpair` of: mating` coupling mein-- bers adapted 1to1 beA secured; to az. similar coupling member which; islflexibly supported, yfrom theadjacent car. The coupling' meiir` bei", 2vis'.. supportedl from. thefv-alvverv l, by means of agflexible-conduit, of' some suitable: 951

type. This flexibleconduit` in the: example here; shown: comprises an upper' supporting member 3, an upperjoint niember4, ai maiir conduitsection 5 a lower joint member 6,YV andr ailower: conduit member 7,. to which 100 latter is secured the coupling member 2. Each of the above enumerated members of the flexible conduit structure is articulated with the adjacent member of the structure by a swiveled articulation consisting of inter-fitting sleeves or cylindrical bearingV elements held in operative relation without substantial endwise pressure of one member against the other, the joint between the bearing'elementsbeing sealed by a gasket which is not clampedV or compressed'be-V tween the members of the flexible structure but is in a sense floating and is maintained in its sealing position in part by ra spring but more irmly and eectively bythe pressure of the `fluid passing through the .conduit. Y y,

Theupper supporting ymember 3 has a threaded extension 8 by which it is sup-v the swiveled connections l(for` example that orted from the valve ;casing 1. One of one between the lower joint member 6 and the lower end of conduit is shown at the bottom of Fig. 3.V lThe nipple `9 on joint ,'member 6V extends linto the open end Yor outlet 10 of conduit 5, and has a. beveled end engaging the .gasket A11, Whichl gasket is urged against the end kof the nipple and outwardlyagainst the innersurface'of out- `let 10 by the spring V12'bearing on follower 13, and also by the steam pressure existing within the conduiult will be understood that the other swiveled connections between the various members offjthis conduit are provided with similar packing connections.

The upper joint member 4 is supported i from the upper member 3 by means of the bracket 14.

The intermediate conduit member 5, with the insulation of which'we are particularly concerned in this present instance, comprisesV a straight portion of considerable length provided with. curved ends leading to the outlets 10which open at right angles `to the mainstraight portion of the conduit.

Brackets extend laterallyrom the inner side of conduit 5,' substantially in the plane of the centers of outlet 10, these brackets 15 being-1 adapted to support the conduit 5 from the upper joint member 4, and to sup-.V

port the lower joint member 6 from kthe conduit 5f A flexible sustaining device comprising the spring 16, and links 17 andV 18, connects the lug 19 on Aupper joint member 4 with the lug 2O on lower conduit inember 7, thus serving to yieldably support the flexible conduit structure when vnot connected with the conduit on an adjacent car.

The .long central conduit member has the greatest exposed area of any member of the coupling, and itis withv the insulation of this member that we are here particularly concerned, although the improved insulating covering can'be 'applied to other members vof the joint, as willy bev hereinafter disclosed.

" to in any suitable manner. .n formed internally with a plurality of spaced The insulation acket 21y (see Fig. 6) is so formed that it'may be Wrapped around the conduit section 5 and covers substantially all portions thereof including the curved ends. It may be wired in place or secured in any other suitable manner. This insulation consists orn a rather thick pad of asbestos or other long ibered cloth, or any other suitable insulating material might be used. The rubber casiiig22 which formsthe subject-matter of this 4invention is shown detached in Fig. 2, and applied to the conduit in Figs. 1, 3 and 4; rlhis casing is shaped to inclose the insulating jacket 21 and the entire conduit 5, except tor the projecting outletslO and brackets 15. This casing 22 is split alongits inner side as indicated at 23, in line with the central plane of the outlets 10 and brackets 15, so that the casing may be sprung apart andapplied about the conduit member. Openings 24 are provided in the split portion 23 to accommodate the brackets 15. Outwardly projecting tlanges are iormed along the edges o' the splitv openingY 23, these ilanges being provided with mating perforations- 2G through which metallic clips or bindeis 27 are passed. Each binder 27 (as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8) is oi U-shape and formed with a short ,leg which overlies the top of the flanges 25, and a long leg 36 split at 37 to form a pair of prongs 38. The leg 3Sis passed through a pair of mating openings 26 in the flanges 25 and the prongs 38 are then bent` up to lock the binder in place, as shown ingFig. 8.

At the ends of casing 22 are internally projecting annular collars 28 adapted to lit snugly about the laterally projecting outlets 10 of conduit 5. These collars 28 may be made of a suitable heat resisting material such as an asbestos composition, or phenolic, condensation product, moulded integral with the rubber casing or separately secured there- The casing 22 is -longitudinally extending inwardly projecting ribs 29, and a'second series ot circumferentially extending ribs 30, these ribs being adapted to engage the insulating jacket 21 as shown in Fig, and provide air pockets 31, about said jacket to add to the insulating eiliciency of the covering. lt will be noted that there are three effective layers or" insulation, that is'the inner asbestos acket 21,

'the air pockets 31, and the outer rubber casing 22.

It will be apparent tliat'in the process of coupling and uncoupling cars, and in the movements to which the flexi le conduit is subjected while a train is in motion, these conduit members are subjected to frequent shocks, bumps orV blows, and the rubber casino' is particularly well adapted to withstand these blows without injury thereto, and at the saine time serve as. a protection for the insulating. duit'. 5.

ing principle may be applied tol other sec-Y tions ofthe flexible conduit. Forexample,

on the lower conduit member 7 in Fig. 1, l have shown an insulatingk jacket 32and an outer rubber casing 33 which are the same in all respects as the parts hereinabove described except for the changes in form and proportions necessary to adapt them to the conduit member 7.

I claim:

l. An insulating covering for a portion of a metallic conduit structure, comprising a rubber casing shaped to surround the conduit member substantially from end to end thereof, and split lengthwise to permit the casing to be sprung into place about Athe conduit, there being projecting flanges formed along the adjacent edges of the split portion, mating perforations being formed in these flanges, and binding members passed through these perforations.

2. An insulating covering for a portion of a metallic conduit structure, comprising a non-metallic casing shaped to surround.

the conduit member substantially from end to end thereof, and split lengthwise to permit the casing to be sprung into place about the conduit, there being projecting flanges formed along the adjacent edges of the split portion, mating perforations being formed in these flanges, and binding members passed through these perforations.

3. An insulating covering for a portion of a metallic conduit structure, comprising a rubber casing shaped to surround the conduit member substantially from end to end hereof, and'split lengthwise to permit the casing to be sprung into place about the conduit, the casing being formed internally with a plurality of inwardly projectingspaced ribs providing air pockets therebetween when the casing is in place on the conduit, and means for securing together the edges of the split portion.

4. An insulating covering for a portion of a metallic conduit structure, comprising a rubber casing shaped to surround the conduit member substantially from end to end thereof, and split lengthwise to permit the casing to be sprung into place about the conduit, the casing being formed internally with a plurality of inwardly projecting spaced ribs providing air pockets therebetween when the casing is in place on the conduit, there being projecting flanges formed along the adjacent edges of the split portion, mating perforations being formed in these flanges, and binding members passed through the perforations;

5. An insulating covering for a portion of metallic conduit structure, comprising a rubber casing shaped to surround the conduit member .substantially from end to end thereof, andsplit lengthwise to permit the casingto be sprung into place about the conduit, the casing being formed internally on the conduit, and means for securing together kthe edges of the split portion 6. An insulating covering for a portion of a metallic conduit structure, comprising a rubber casing shaped to surround the conduit membersubstantially from end` t0 end thereof, and split` lengthwise topermit the casing to be sprung into place about thev conduit, the casing being formedinternallyk with a plurality of inwardly projecting spaced ribs, one series of the ribs ruiming lengthwise of the casingand a second series running circumferentially of the casing and crossingthe firstseries to providea series of airfpockets when the casing is in place on the conduit, there being projecting flanges formed along the adjacent edges of the split portion and `mating perforations being formed in the flanges, and binding4 members passed through the perforations.

7. An insulating covering for a portion of a metallic conduit structure, comprising arubber casing shaped to surround the conduit member substantially from end to end thereof, and split lengthwise to permit the casing to be sprung into place about theconwith a plurality of inwardly projecting duit, the casing being formed internally spaced ribs providing air pocketstherebetween `when the casing `is in place on the conduit, and inwardly extending collars at the ends of the casing adapted to engage the conduit structure, and means for securing together the edges of the split portion.

8.r In combination with a covering of fibrous insulating material adapted to be applied about a member of a metallic conduit structure, a rubber casing shaped to surround the member substantially from end to end thereof and split lengthwise along one side kto permit the casing to be sprung into.

lace about the conduit the casino` beinrr 3 D :D

sus,

formed internally with a plurality of crossed ribs projecting inwardly to engage-the insulating materialjand provide air pockets between the insulation and the casing, and means for securing together the edges of the split portion.

9. yIny combination vwith a covering Aof Vfibrous insulating material adapted to be applied about a member of `a metallic conduit structure, a non-metallic casing shaped to surround the member substantially from end to end thereof and split lengthwise along one side tofpermit thev casingto be sprung into place about the conduit, the casing be!V ing formed internally with a plurality of crossed ribs projecting inwardly t0 engage the insulating material and provide air pockets between the insulation and the casing, and means for securing together the edges ot the split portion.

l0.l rEhe combination with a covering of fibrous insuiating material shaped to enclose all except the end outlets of a tubular metallic conduit member formed with a straight portion curved to connect with end outlets opening at right angles to the straight por tion and also having supporting brackets projecting from the straight portion in the same direction as the end outlets, of a rubloer casing shaped to surround the member substantially from end to end thereof and split aiong its inner vside in line with the centers of the outlets and the brackets to permit the casing to be sprung into pla-ce about the conduit the casing being formed internaliy with a plurality of crossed ribs which project inwardly to engage the insulating covering and provide air spaces between the insulation and the casing,the casing also being formed with inwardly projecting annular collars of heat resisting material at its ends which engage about the outlets, and means for securing together the edges of the split portion of the casing.

ll. The combination with a covering of fibrous insulating material shaped to enclose all except the end outlets of a tubularmmeltallic conduit member formed with a straight portion curved to connect with end outlets opening at right-angles to the straight portion and also having supporting brackets projecting from the. straight portion in the same direction as the end outlets, of a rub- `mit the casing to be sprung into place about the conduit, the casing being formed internally with a plurality of crossed ribs which project inwardly to engage the insulating covering and provide air spaces between the insulation andthe casing, the casing Valso 'being formed with inwardly projecting annular'collars of heat resisting material at its ends which engage about the outlets,

there being projecting iianges formed along the edges of the split portion of the casing, the iianges having mating perforations therein, and i etaliic binders passed through the perforations.

i2. 1n combination with a covering of Viibrous insulating material shaped to be applied about a metallic conduit structure, a rubber casing shaped to surround the member substantially from end to end thereof ,and completely inclose the insulation, the casing being formed interlorly with a pluplied.

WILLIAM W.' KNIGHT.

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